Inferno Anthology (282 page)

The house burst into applause, whistles, and cat calls. I didn’t put Brooklyn down, carrying her past the other dancers heading on stage and the crew, who were busy setting things up. Rounding the corner into the vacant hallway, I slowly slid her down my body before pinning her with my hips against the wall.

“Brooklyn,” I said, shortly, out of breath. I wondered if she could feel my hard-on pulsating between us.

“Six,” she replied, just as breathlessly.

“I have to say, I’m surprised to see you here. Last time I checked, you were underage.” She didn’t cower or look away, she just licked her lips, the action making me throb harder. “Don’t you know the Vegas strip is a dangerous place for a pretty girl like you?”

“I’d be in danger anywhere that you are,” she replied evenly, pressing her hips harder into mine.

I chuckled; realizing, in that moment, that the girl I’d pegged as sweet and shy had a bit of a tiger streak in her. “Careful, sweetheart. You’re playing with fire down there.”

“A little heat never hurt anyone.” Her face was flushing wildly. She might talk big, but her skin said different things about her. Suddenly I wanted to know just how experienced she was.

“Said like a person who’s never been burned by the fire.” I couldn’t help pressing back into her—challenging her. “It makes me wonder how many times you’ve been properly fucked.” I was getting in over my head talking to her this way. At this rate, I’d be headed into the bathroom to jack off this raging hard on before I could go back on stage.

“Only once,” she replied, and jealousy seethed through me at her words. I wanted to kill whoever had taken her before me. “And it just happened live, on stage,” she added.

Grinning, I leaned in closer, placing my mouth next to her ear. “Oh, sweetheart, didn’t you know? That was just foreplay.” Backing away, I looked at her.

Her eyes held mine, stare for stare, searching. “You shouldn’t tease me and say things you don’t mean.”

“I wouldn’t joke about something like this.” I trailed a hand down her arm, slipping my fingers into hers and linking them with mine. “Who are you here with tonight?”

“About twenty girls for a bachelorette party,” she replied, her fingers tightening around mine. “Why?”

“Do they know you’re underage?”

“Of course. They’re the ones who got the fake ID for me. I didn’t even know about it until tonight.”

“Where does your daddy think you are?” I could totally imagine Scott tearing the city apart looking for her.

“Spending the night with Bailey after her sister’s bridal shower.”

“Six!” Randy’s voice broke in between us. “Get moving or you’re going to miss your next call.”

Sighing, I glanced at him. “Be right there.” Randy disappeared and I turned back to Brooklyn. “They let the women come meet us after the show and pay for pictures and stuff. Come meet me. Tell the guy taking the money you have a special invite from Six and he’ll let you past without paying.”

“And then what?” she asked.

“Then I’m going to see what I can do about extracting you from your friends for the rest of the night.”

“Six!” Randy called again, reappearing around the corner. Reluctantly stepping away from Brooklyn, I gestured for Randy to take and escort her back to her seat.

“Sorry. Duty calls. You’ll be there later?”

She nodded, her eyes drifting lower and widening before she quickly turned away, hurrying toward Randy. Glancing down, I couldn’t help the wry chuckle. G-strings weren’t exactly the best things to conceal a hard on. I’d probably given everyone in the audience a show, popping out the top like this.

Oh well, there was nothing I could do about it now but take care of it. Glancing at the monitor on the wall behind me, I quickly hurried to the dressing room to grab my next costume before scurrying off to the bathroom.

Every spot on my body was tingling and had been for the last forty-five minutes, while I continued to watch the show. Was it sad that ten minutes with Six had trumped any kind of romantic, or even remotely sexual, experience of my life? Granted, I wasn’t sexually experienced, but I had kissed plenty of guys in my lifetime. I’d even had several “make out” sessions, but I was beginning to think I couldn’t call them that anymore. I’d never before felt the things Six had done to my body; and it made me wonder if the boys I’d known previously were just inept, or if I’d never really been attracted to them in the first place.

Six—he was lust incarnate. Never had I wanted to strip myself bare for someone, spending most of my time with other guys trying to keep them from going too far. With Six, I simply wanted to be naked and let him touch me everywhere.

My heated skin refused to stop blushing as I watched him continue to strut around the stage. When he wasn’t on stage, my mind was replaying the minutes I’d spent with him, feeling his hard toned body stroke me in such an overtly sexual manner. Places he’d pressed against me still thrummed with awareness, and I felt like something had been awakened inside me—some dormant creature I’d never know existed in me—something wild and carnal, and only Six was able to extinguish the flame.

It scared me a little, too. He was all man—nothing like the guys I’d dated before now. I was afraid he’d be a fire that consumed me—that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with him and he’d find me somehow lacking.

Chiding myself for the fantasies, I reminded myself that just because he wanted to spend some time with me, it didn’t mean he wanted any kind of relationship. It was obvious he could probably walk away with any girl he wanted on any given night of the week. Sex was probably like a friendly handshake for him, something used often, and given freely to whoever wanted it; a simple meeting of bodies to slack a need.

I wasn’t that kind of girl—at least I didn’t think I was. I wanted the relationship with him. He’d starred in my dreams and longings for too long to be anything else. Just the thought of having a heated night rolling in the sheets with him, only to have him disappear from my life, made my heart hurt. I knew me—I wouldn’t recover from it, and it would ruin any relationship that followed.

He was right. I didn’t know what it was like to be burned in that manner, and I didn’t want to find out. It would be smart of me to keep him at arm’s length for a bit and see how things developed, first.

I wondered if Tommy knew he was a stripper? I mean, he had to, right? I briefly wished he were here so I could punch him for not telling me. Of course, if Tommy knew Six was anywhere near me, he’d have probably shot him and told my dad to lock me up. He may have gotten into trouble at times, but he excelled in the overprotective big brother department.

The show ended in a rousing standing ovation and women hurried to line up for the meet and greet session.

“Oh my gosh!” Bailey squealed beside me as soon as the music dropped down to a level where we could speak. “Were you totally dying? I was. When they took you up on stage, I thought I was going to pass out from screaming so loud. That was so sexy!” I smiled, not knowing what to say, but she continued on as she dragged me toward the line. “I swear that guy had your number from the moment he laid eyes on you. I don’t think he ever looked at another girl all night!”

“I know him,” I confessed, and Bailey stopped dead in her tracks.

“Excuse me?” Her jaw dropped.

“Six—Trey Jagger is his real name, actually. He’s one of Tommy’s friends. I had no idea he worked here.”

“You know him? Oh. Em. Gee. Brooklyn! How could you keep a guy like him under wraps and not introduce me?”

“Well, he’s older than us, and he doesn’t exactly run in the same social circles that we do.”

“Then we need to change that,” she said, her eyes moving to where he was posing for pictures with women on stage. “Wait! This isn’t the guy you’ve been hiding from me, is it?”

Biting my lip, I nodded slowly. “He’s the one who gave me my tattoo.” I glanced over at him and he winked in my direction. “He asked me to meet him after the show. I told him I was here with all of you.”

I didn’t think her jaw could drop any farther. “Brookie, you have to go with him! Don’t worry, I’ll cover for you.”

“I can’t just leave the party after everything Shannon went through to get me the ID.”

“Trust me. She won’t even know you’re gone with what they have planned for the rest of the night. I’m telling you that you have to go with this guy. And then, I get to know every single detail afterword. Promise me.”

I nodded. “I promise.”

***

I felt awkward standing in the hallway waiting for Six to come out of the dressing room. Guys from the show were walking past, heading out the door. Several of them nodded or smiled in a friendly manner as they went by. They all seemed really nice.

Finally, Six appeared, looking as if he were freshly showered, his hair still damp. His black t-shirt hugged his huge frame tightly, outlining all his perfect muscle definition. His jeans were a little baggier, worn over black leather motorcycle boots, and I thought he looked just as sexy in his clothes as he did out of them.

“Sorry about the wait,” he apologized, a lopsided grin creasing his mouth as his eyes traveled over me, from top to bottom and back again. He held his hand out in a gentlemanly manner, gesturing for me to go first toward the door. When we reached it, he leaned forward and pushed it open.

“Can I just say, I think you should maybe wear this outfit you’ve got on every single day? By the way, I’m parked over there.” He pointed to the far end of the lot before placing his hand on the small of my back, guiding me in that direction.

I laughed. “If I wore it every day then it wouldn’t be special.” I glanced up at him as he seemed to consider this.

“True. I can’t complain, though. Having you change clothes everyday will give me something to look forward to.”

A thrill shot through me at his words. They sounded like he intended to be around for a while. I wasn’t really sure what kind of etiquette this situation warranted though, seeing how I’d never been picked up by a dancer in a nightclub before.

I decided being forward had worked for me this far, I might as well keep doing it. “Can I ask you something?”

He glanced down at me. “Anything. I’m an open book.”

“How many girls have you picked up at work?”

Straightening a bit, he sighed. “Counting you?” I nodded, afraid of his answer. “Hmm. Let me think.” This did not bode well if he actually had to take the time to count them. “Yeah, I’m thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of one—counting you.” My eyebrows shot up in surprise and he laughed. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Surprised?”

“After that routine you pulled with me tonight? Yes. I figured any lady lucky enough to get to come on stage with you probably got a free ride later on.”

“Really? And yet you still agreed to meet me. Does that mean you were wanting said ride?” I could feel the blush spreading furiously across my face as he bent to unlock the passenger side of his Jaguar, opening the door. “I mean, I’d be more than willing to accommodate you; but as you can see, the back seat of this car is practically non-existent. I barely fit in the driver’s seat. Of course, I could do you on the hood if you’d like.”

I couldn’t even form words to reply; instead, I just slid inside. He chuckled as he shut the door behind me, going around to the driver’s side and getting in. He was right. His large frame barely fit in the front seat of the car.

Sliding the key into the ignition, he started it, but didn’t put it in gear. Instead, he turned to me. “I just want you to know tonight, on stage, well, let’s just say I got a little more into my routine than I ever have before. I know you don’t know me that well, but I’ve never hit on a girl I brought on stage before. And it’s fairly safe to say, I’ve never been turned on during my routine like I was tonight, either. So, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to start things off better with you than I’ve managed to do so far. Maybe we could call tonight our first date?”

“First?” I said, smiling, not missing that word.

“Yeah, first. Unless you’re counting dinner the other night as the first. But first or second, I know I’d like there to be more—if you’re game for it.”

“Why me?” I asked, still expecting to suddenly wake up and find out I’d simply been having a really great dream.

The grin was back and his gaze flitted over me before capturing my eyes, again. “Isn’t it obvious? I like you.” Then he put the car in gear and pulled away. “I have for a while, actually.”

His confession completely surprised me. “Then why didn’t you say so?” I asked directly.

He sighed heavily, pausing at the stop sign at the exit of the private parking area before pulling out onto the street. “Because I’ve been trying to stay away from you.”

“Why?” Dang, I was totally coming off as twenty questions.

“Because you’re underage; and the daughter of a very ornery mayor. You’re jailbait, sweetheart, even if sixteen is the legal age of consent around here, your parents could still make my life miserable, legally. And while I’m always willing to push the boundaries, when it comes to your dad, I’d really like to stay out of the slammer. As you witnessed earlier, my body seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to you.”

This actually made sense, but also made me feel sad. Sighing, I leaned my head back against the headrest. “If you want to keep seeing me, we’ll have to sneak around. You know that, right? My dad would be furious to find out about you and he’d do everything he could to make sure you disappeared—for good. If I were eighteen, it wouldn’t matter. I’d just tell him to shove it.”

He laughed. “Promise me I can watch that when it happens. I know we’d have to be careful. I’m not going to lie. It makes me nervous. When do you turn eighteen?”

“In July.”

“Four months. That’s a long time.”

I didn’t reply. I knew it was a lot to ask for him to sneak around with a teenager and I was afraid he was trying to talk himself out of it. While I didn’t want him to, I still wouldn’t drag him into a situation with my dad. My dad was not a nice man—and apparently Tommy had made that fact pretty clear to Six, since he knew so much about him.